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296
lapse of some years. To effect any such improvement
in the present day, an officer is required to advise
parents, and to endeavour to mitigate the evil results
of dirt and ignorance. Women have been found to
carry out this work with success.
Of the mortality from other diseases mentioned in
Table 23, it will be noticed that the deaths from
Tubercular Diseases have decreased from an annual
average of 31 in the quinquennium 1889-93 to 21
last year; and those from Bronchitis and Pneumonia
from an average of 77 in the quinquennium 1894-98
to 58. There was also a slight reduction in the
mortality from Convulsions. There is no doubt that
the freedom from prevalence of Measles favourably
affected the mortality from these diseases last year.
The deaths from Premature Birth (62) were somewhat
above the average for the decennium (58), but
were under the average for the second quinquennium
(63). Congenital Malformations— including atelectasis—caused
13 deaths only, as against an annual
average of 20 in the five years 1894-98.
There was a considerable increase in the deaths
from Suffocation, i.e., by overlaying in bed. At present
the law takes no action in respect of such deaths, if
the Coroner's finding is that the death was accidental.
Undoubtedly many of the cases occur in the drunken